Greenwood Defends Taiwan Trip

Three days after winning re-election last fall, U.S. Rep. Jim Greenwood and his wife, Tina, flew to Taiwan for a weeklong trip paid for by that island-nation's business interests.

From there, the couple took a two-day side-trip to Hong Kong. Greenwood, R-8th District, paid for that portion himself, according to a financial disclosure report he filed yesterday with the U.S. House.

Similar reports submitted by other area lawmakers and released yesterday contained nothing as exotic. U.S. Rep. Paul McHale, D-15th District, volunteered that he and his wife, Katherine, paid $29,069 in federal income taxes on gross income of $146,595 during 1994.

The annual public documents provide a peek at the financial arrangements of federal lawmakers. They show assets and debts in broad ranges and reflect whether the lawmaker accepted any free trips or fees for speaking.

Greenwood did both.

From Nov. 11 to Nov. 20, The Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce hosted Greenwood and several other lawmakers for a series of meetings with the Taiwanese president and other government leaders in the capital of Taipei.

Food, lodging and transportation all were free as part of the country's ongoing bid to strengthen trade relations.

Some ethics groups view such overseas trips as junkets. But Alex Benes, managing director for Center for Public Integrity, a non-partisan watchdog organization, believes constituents should decide on a case-by-case basis.

"Minimally, questions are raised by such behavior," Benes said.

First elected in 1992, Greenwood has taken two similar trips. In August 1993 he visited Israel compliments of a pro-Israel foundation. Last month he and his wife spent a week in Germany on the tab of a foundation established by that government.

In an official capacity, Greenwood also visited Russia in an attempt to find work for employees of the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Taxpayers covered that cost.

Greenwood, who serves on the House Commerce Committee, listed a desire for a better understanding of U.S.-Taiwan trade relations and the opportunity to promote American goods abroad as just two reasons for him to make the Taiwan trip.

While there, he said he promoted Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse Corp.'s bid to build a nuclear reactor. And he made contacts on behalf of several Bucks County-area businesses, including chemical-maker Rohm & Haas.

Greenwood said in an interview yesterday that he even distributed bottles of wine from Sandcastle Winery, Erwinna, a company hoping for exports.

Pennsylvania last year exported $479.5 million to Taiwan, making it the state's sixth-largest trading partner, figures released by the Pennsylvania Commerce Department show.

Greenwood said various business constituents, including Warrington-based developer Herbert Barness, encouraged the visit for a better understanding of U.S.-Taiwan trade relations and their linkage with China.

Last May, the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association transported Greenwood from Doylestown to West Virginia for a speech. He accepted a $1,000 check for the effort, his report shows.

Lawmakers used to keep such honoraria. Now they must donate it to charity.

Greenwood gave his to Bucks County Transport, a non-profit group that shuttled senior citizens to an elderly conference he co-sponsored with the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging.

As a member of the House Commerce subcommittee on health and the environment, Greenwood said that he gives scores of such speeches.

"I don't make the decisions about where and when to speak depending on whether it's an honorarium," Greenwood said. "I make it based on where and when I want to speak."

He said he accepts checks "in the rare case an honorarium is offered and I think it can be put to good use."

Greenwood sees no problem taking honoraria from groups that do business with his subcommittee now that lawmakers do not keep them.

Greenwood's report showed family assets ranging from $4,000 to $60,000 in bonds and mutual funds. A state lawmaker for 12 years before joining Congress, he collects $5,448 a year from Harrisburg in pension.

Greenwood is a volunteer director of the Bucks County Council on Alcoholism, The Woods Schools and Parents Anonymous of Pennsylvania.

Here are highlights from financial disclosure forms filed by some other area lawmakers.

MCHALE

Following past practice, McHale included his federal income tax form with his filing, providing unusually detailed information about his finances.

McHale accepted no free trips. Nor did he take honoraria.

McHale reported assets ranging from $177,000 to $480,000. He reported personal and auto loans ranging from $35,000 to $80,000. A used car bought in December boosted the debt slightly compared to last year.